French Nouns Starting With I

99 of the most common French nouns start with I: 40 masculine, 51 feminine, and 8 that take either gender. 3 break the usual rule for their ending, so those are the ones to memorize.

Noun Gender Meaning Ending rule
l'idéal masculine Follows -al
l'idée feminine idea Follows -ée
l'identification feminine Follows -tion
l'identité feminine Follows -té
l'idiot masculine idiot No rule
l'idole feminine No rule
l'if masculine No rule
l'ignorance feminine Follows -ance
l'île feminine No rule
l'illusion feminine Follows -sion
l'image feminine picture, image Exception -age is usually masculine
l'imagination feminine Follows -tion
l'imbécile both No rule
l'immatriculation feminine Follows -tion
l'immeuble masculine No rule
l'immigration feminine Follows -tion
l'immunité feminine Follows -té
l'impact masculine No rule
l'impasse feminine No rule
l'impatience feminine Follows -ence
l'impératrice feminine No rule
l'implant masculine No rule
l'implication feminine Follows -tion
l'importance feminine Follows -ance
l'impossible masculine No rule
l'imposteur masculine Follows -teur
l'impôt masculine No rule
l'impression feminine impression; printing Follows -sion
l'impulsion feminine Follows -sion
l'incendie masculine Exception -ie is usually feminine
l'incident masculine No rule
l'inconnu masculine No rule
l'incroyable both No rule
l'indépendance feminine Follows -ance
l'indic masculine No rule
l'indice masculine No rule
l'indien masculine No rule
l'individu masculine No rule
l'industrie feminine Follows -ie
l'infection feminine Follows -tion
l'infirmerie feminine Follows -ie
l'infirmier masculine Follows -ier
l'influence feminine Follows -ence
l'informateur masculine Follows -teur
l'information feminine information; (plural) the news Follows -tion
l'infraction feminine Follows -tion
l'ingénieur both No rule
l'ingrédient masculine No rule
l'initiative feminine No rule
l'injection feminine Follows -tion
l'injustice feminine No rule
l'innocence feminine Follows -ence
l'innocent masculine No rule
l'inquiétude feminine Follows -ude
l'inscription feminine Follows -tion
l'insecte masculine No rule
l'insigne masculine No rule
l'inspecteur masculine inspector Follows -teur
l'inspection feminine Follows -tion
l'inspiration feminine Follows -tion
l'installation feminine Follows -tion
l'instant masculine instant, moment No rule
l'instinct masculine No rule
l'instituteur masculine Follows -teur
l'institution feminine Follows -tion
l'instruction feminine Follows -tion
l'instrument masculine Follows -ment
l'insulte feminine No rule
l'intégrité feminine Follows -té
l'intelligence feminine Follows -ence
l'intention feminine Follows -tion
l'interdiction feminine Follows -tion
l'intérêt masculine interest No rule
l'intérieur masculine inside, interior No rule
l'intermédiaire both No rule
l'interne both No rule
l'internet masculine No rule
l'interrogatoire masculine No rule
l'intervention feminine Follows -tion
l'interview both No rule
l'intestin masculine Follows -in
l'intimité feminine Follows -té
l'intrusion feminine Follows -sion
l'intuition feminine Follows -tion
l'inutile both No rule
l'invasion feminine Follows -sion
l'inventaire masculine No rule
l'invention feminine Follows -tion
l'inverse masculine No rule
l'investissement masculine Follows -ment
l'investisseur masculine No rule
l'invitation feminine Follows -tion
l'invité masculine Exception -té is usually feminine
l'ironie feminine Follows -ie
l'isolement masculine Follows -ment
l'issue feminine No rule
l'italien masculine No rule
l'itinéraire masculine No rule
l'ivrogne both No rule

← Nouns starting with H Nouns starting with J →

The ending rules come from the gender rules by ending. Looking for a noun that is not listed? Look it up on the home page, or go back to the full A-to-Z index.